Begonia plant named `Pinto`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named `Pinto`, characterized by its large, attractive light pink fully double flowers that are about 8.5 cm in diameter; resistance to powdery mildew under commercial greenhouse conditions; and excellent postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia ×hiemalis, commerically known asElatior Begonia, and referred to by the cultivar name `Pinto.`

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in a controlledenvironment in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, in 1994, as a mutation ofthe nonpatented Elatior Begonia cultivar Schwabenland. The new cultivarwas observed as a single plant in a group of 13-cm flowering plants ofthe parent cultivar. The selection of this plant was based on its lightpink flower color, fully double flower form and resistance to powderymildew. A detailed comparison of plants of the new Begonia and thecultivar Schwabenland appears in Chart A at the end of thespecification.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, has shown that theunique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

The cultivar `Pinto` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of `Pinto`. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish `Pinto` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large and attractive light pink fully double flowers that are about8.5 cm in diameter.

2. Resistance to powdery mildew under commerical greenhouse conditions.

3. Excellent postproduction logevity.

The accompany colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance ofthe new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of`Pinto`. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands,that were flowered in November under commerical practice in aglass-covered greenhouse. Average day temperatures were 20° C. andaverage night temperatures were 18° C. Assimilation lights provided amaximum light level of 18, 000 lux. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages for six typical flowering plants.

Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Pinto.

Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia.

Parentage: Naturally-occuring mutation of single-floweredBegonia×hiemalis cultivar Schwabenland.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to rooting.--About 14 days with soil temperatures of 23° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant Description:

Plant form.--Upright and rounded potted plant, freely branching withgood stem and stem base strength. Flowers are fully double and abundant.Plants flower continuously.

Growth habit.--Moderate growth rate and moderately vigorous. Suitablefor 10 to 15-cm containers. Under optimal environmental and culturalconditions, usually 10 weeks are required to produce proportional 13-cmpotted plants from terminal cuttings. Vegetative shoots are formed atbasal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at upper modes.

Plant height.--About 30 cm.

Plant width.--About 25 cm.

Leaves.--Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Size: Length: About 27 cm.Width: About 19 cm. Shape: Asymmetrically cordate. Apex: Acute. Base:Cordate, overlapping. Margin: Undulating and lacerate. Texture: Smoothand leathery. Color: Young foliage: Upper surface: 143A. Lower sufrace:138B. Mature foliage: Upper surface: 139A. Lower surface: 138B.Venation: Upper surface: Light green. Lower sutface: 138B.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Fully double and large flowers arranged in racemes.Many racemes in flower simultaneously. Flowering continuous.

Natural flowering season.--Plants will flower year around regardless ofdaylength, however plants will flower earlier and more abundantly ifdaylength is 12 hours or less. Usually plants start flowering after 7weeks of start of short day/long night treatments.

Flowers.13 Shape: Flattened, oval. Diameter: About 8.5 cm.

Tepals.--Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Rounded with undulating margin.Quantity per flower: Usually about 24 per flower. Color: When opening:49B/52D. Fully opened: Upper surface: 49B/52D. Lower surface: 49B.Texture: Smooth, velvety, glabrous.

Sepals.--Arrangement: Two, opposite, Shape: Oval. Color: 144C.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: None. Pistils: None.

Postproduction longevity:

Individual flowers.--Generally 3 weeks.

Whole plants.--About 6 weeks under interior conditions.

Disease resistance: Plants of the cultivar `Pinto` are resistant toPowdery Mildew under greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed as reproductiveorgans are not formed.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART A                                                                       CHARACTERISTIC `PINTO`     `SCHWABENLAND`                                     ______________________________________                                        LEAF LENGTH    About 27 cm About 22 cm                                        LEAF WIDTH     About 19 cm About 15 cm                                        LEAF MARGIN    Undulate and                                                                              Serrate                                                           lacerate                                                       LEAF COLOR,    143A        141B                                               YOUNG, UPPER                                                                  SURFACE                                                                       LEAF COLOR,    139A        141A                                               MATURE, UPPER                                                                 SURFACE                                                                       FLOWER FORM    Double      Single                                             NUMBER OF TEPALS                                                                             About 24 per                                                                              4 per flower                                                      flower                                                         TEPAL MARGIN   Undulate    Flat, entire                                       TEPAL COLOR,   49B         43A                                                WHEN OPENING                                                                  TEPAL COLOR    49B         43A                                                FULLY OPENED, UPPER                                                           SURFACE                                                                       TEPAL COLOR,   49B         44A                                                FULLY OPENED, LOWER                                                           SURFACE                                                                       DISEASE        Resistant to                                                                              Susceptible to                                     RESISTANCE     Powdery Mildew                                                                            Powdery Mildew                                     ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named`Pinto`, as illustrated and described.